180 KEPORT— 1875. 



aEOGEAPHY. 



Address by Licut.-Gcneral E. Steachet, B.E., C.S.L, F.R.S., President of 



the Section. 



In accordance witli the practice followed for some years past by the Presidents 

 of the Sections of the British Association, I propose, before proceeding with our 

 ordinary business, to ofler for j^our consideration some observations relative to the 

 branch of knowledge with which this Section is more specially concerned. 



My predecessors in this Chair have, in their opening addresses, viewed Geo- 

 graphy in many various lights. Some have drawn attention to recent geographical 

 discoveries of interest, or to the gradual progi-ess of geogi-aphical knowledge over 

 the earth generally, or in particular regions. Others have spoken of the value of 

 geogi-aphical Iniowledge in the ordinary aii'airs of men, or in some of the special 

 branches of those affairs, and of the means of extending such knowledge. Other 

 addresses again have dwelt on the practical influence produced by the geogi-aphical 

 features and conditions of the various parts of the earth on the p.'ist history and 

 present state of the several sections of tiie human race^ the formation of kingdoms, 

 the growth of industry and commerce, and the spread of civilization. 



The judicious character of that part of our organization which leads to yearly 

 changes among those who preside over our meetings, and does not attempt authorita- 

 tively to prescribe the dii-ection of om* discussions, will no doubt be generally recog- 

 nized. It has the obvious advantage, amongst others, of ensuring that none of the 

 multifarious claims to attention of the several branches of science shall be made 

 unduly prominent, and of giving opportunity for viewing the subjects which from 

 time to time come before the Association in fresh aspects by various minds. 



Follovsdng, then, a somewhat different path from those who have gone before 

 me in treating of Geography, I propose to speak of the physical causes which have 

 impressed on our planet the present outlines and forms of its surface, have brought 

 about its present conditions of climate, and have led to the development and distri- 

 bution of the living beings found upon it. 



In selecting this subject for my opening remarks, I have been not a little in- 

 fluenced by a consideration of the present state of geogi-aphical knowledge, and of 

 the probable future of geographical investigation. It is plain that the field for 

 mere topographical exploration is already greatly limited, and that it is continually 

 becoming more restricted. Although no doubt much remains to be done in 

 obtaining detailed maps of large tracts of the earth's surface, yet there is but com- 

 paratively a very small area vdth the essential features of which we are not now fairly 

 well acquainted. Day by day our maps become more complete, and vdth our greatly 

 improved means of communication the knowledge of distant countries is constantly 

 enlarged and more widely diffused. Somewhat in the same proportion the demands 

 for more exact information become more pressing. The necessary consequence is 

 an increased tendency to give to geographical investigations a more strictly scien- 

 tific direction. In proof of this. I may instance the fact that the two British naval 

 expeditions now being carried on, that of the Challenger and that of the Arctic 

 seas, have been organized almost entirely for general scientific research, and com- 

 paratively little for topographical discovery. Narratives of travels, which not many 

 years ago might have been accepted as valuable contributions to our then less 

 perfect knowledge, would now perhaps be regarded as superficial and insufficient. 

 In short the standard of knowledge of travellers and writers on Geography must 

 be raised to meet the increased requirements of the time. 



Other influences are at work tending to the same residt. The great advance made 

 in all branches of natural science limits more and more closely the facilities for 

 original research, and draws the observer of natm-e into more and more special 

 studies, while it renders the acquisition by any individual of the highest standard 

 of knowledge in more than one or two special subjects comparatively difficult and 

 rare. At the same time the mutual interdependence of all natural phenomena daily 

 becomes more apparent ; and it is of ever-increasing importance that there shall be 

 some among the cultivators of natural knowledge who specially direct their atten- 



